Citation
accompanying the award of the Military Cross
to
2/Lt. McAloney.

In 18
October 1966, during Operation Queanbeyan in
Phuoc Tuy Province South Vietnam, Second
Lieutenant John Douglas McAloney commanding
the Assault Pioneer Platoon of 5th Battalion
The Royal Australian Regiment was given the
difficult task of clearing booby traps from
a rocky, thickly jungled, cave riddled spur.
The area was the scene of a bitter
engagement between other elements of 5th
Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment and
the Viet Cong on the preceding day during
which the enemy had withdrawn deeper into
the protection of the booby trapped caves.
The clearance of the booby traps was to
precede a detailed search of the caves.
After positioning covering groups, Second
Lieutenant McAloney, alone, entered the
first cave entrance to commence delousing
the bobby traps. At this time, a Viet Cong
sniper fired from another concealed cave
entrance mortally wounding one of the
Assault Pioneer sentries. With complete
disregard for his own safety, Second
Lieutenant McAloney moved from the shelter
of the cave out to the wounded man and
dragged him to a more secure area. After
arranging for the evacuation of the
casualty, Second Lieutenant McAloney, alone,
again approached the suspect cave and
personally tossed gas grenades into both the
front entrance and possible exits. As the
gas and subsequent firing of M79 grenades
into the cave still failed to dislodge the
occupants, preparations were made to employ
flame throwers. Firstly Second Lieutenant
McAloney again moved out alone under
covering fire to recover the weapon of the
wounded man. This was lying in the line of
fire for the proposed flame attack. Whilst
doing this he was wounded in the right
temple but persevered and retrieved the
weapon. He then gathered a flame thrower
team of two men and personally led them in a
frontal flame assault on the caves area,
burning out each entrance in turn. The
personal courage and leadership shown by
this officer throughout the three and one
half hour period of the action was of the
highest order His determination to close
with and destroy an experienced and
concealed enemy, in extremely difficult
terrain was an inspiration to all ranks.